Srilankan Sports minister defends Kusal Perera against doping charges

Srilanka’s Sports minister Dayasiri Jayasekera had on Wednesday defended the suspended Srilankan wicket-Keeper batsman Kusal Perara against doping, alleging that he suspects some conspiracy on the cricketer in-view of the upcoming World T20.

Kusal Perara was suspended from the ongoing series against New Zealand after a random test carried by the ICC tested him positive for a steroid banned by the Cricket governing laws.

“We are doing all that we can do to defend Kusal against the allegations. We even suspect if it was a conspiracy to keep him out of the World T20 next year”, Jayasekera said in the parliament. Srilanka will enter the ICC T20 cup as defending champions scheduled to be held in India from March to April next year.

The minister said that they would be sending a ‘B’ sample to the ICC for reassessment of the allegation on kusal Perera and added that Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena had also spoken to Kusal over the issue of doping and assured the player of support from the Government.

Kusal will be the second international player to be banned for doping after Upul Tharanga, who was suspended for three months from International Cricket during the 2011 World cup.

On the other hand, suspended Kusal Perera blamed a herbal remedy he had been taking for a shoulder injury as the reason for him failing the doping test.